Where Access Begins: How Envision Supports the Essential Role of TVIs in Education

According to the 2023 American Community Survey (ACS), approximately 625,000 children in the United States live with vision loss and could qualify for specialized Individualized Education Programs (IEPs). Behind each of those students is a team of professionals making their education possible, and at the center of that team is often a Teacher of Students with Visual Impairments (TVI). 

Every day across the United States, TVIs walk into classrooms carrying far more than braille books and magnifiers. They arrive with adaptive tools, technology expertise, mobility strategies and a confident voice that tells students, “You belong here.” For children with vision loss, a TVI can be the difference between simply sitting in a classroom and truly accessing what’s being taught. 

However, the demand for TVIs has never been greater. Many school districts have only one or two specialists supporting large geographic areas, and O&M specialists manage high caseloads across multiple schools.  

For many educators, the students are what keep them going. 
“The kids. The kids are the most rewarding,” says Aundraya Shermer, Director of Field Services for the Kansas State School for the Blind. “Just to watch them grow from not having many skills to graduating from high school and going and living on their own.” 

Yet the reality is unavoidable: TVIs are carrying enormous responsibility. With limited time, resources, and few colleagues who truly understand the complexity of their work, it can be challenging to find the support they need. When support is stretched thin, the impact reaches far beyond the classroom, and teachers may find themselves overwhelmed in one of the most specialized roles in education. 

Pam Oddis, an O&M Specialist with Wichita Public Schools USD 259, sees those challenges every day. “Time is always a challenge,” she says. “I have so many students that I stretch my day as much as possible—some days I don’t take lunches, work late, just trying to get everyone in.” 

This matters because TVIs shape far more than academic outcomes. They teach students to read braille, interpret tactile information, use assistive technology, advocate for themselves, and move confidently through unfamiliar environments.  

That’s why Envision places such a high value on supporting educators. 

“Envision has always maintained a strong partnership with educators for the visually impaired,” says Courtney Wages, Envision Senior Manager of Community Programs. “Our partnership with teachers is crucial; it fosters mutual learning and support, ensuring that we can effectively address the needs of the schools and their students. We learn from them as much as they learn from us.” 

Throughout the year, Envision’s support reaches into the spaces where it matters most, the everyday lives of TVIs, students and families. Staff work directly with schools and families, attend IEP meetings when needed, and help identify resources so teachers and students recieve consistent support. Envision partners with districts to bring students onsite for field trips, art experiences, technology demonstrations and mobility practice, giving TVIs real-world environments to reinforce skills and build confidence. 

Envision also provides targeted professional development that keeps TVIs informed and equipped. Through events like the Envision Conference, offering a multidisciplinary gathering for blind and low-vision professionals where educators can earn CEUs, stay current on best practices and learn alongside O&M specialists, low-vision therapists, accessibility experts and fellow teachers. A long-standing partnership with the Kansas State School for the Blind strengthens these efforts and expands program access for families.  

“There is enough to go around, enough needs out there for families,” Shermer says. “Anything Envision offers, we try to get our families to, and you do the same for us.” 

Together, these efforts strengthen the people who strengthen students. When TVIs receive the training, community and tools they need, students gain access to a wider world of opportunity. When educators feel supported and connected, their expertise and creativity ripple directly into the lives of the children they serve. 

TVIs change lives every day. Envision is proud to stand beside them, reinforcing their work, expanding their resources and helping ensure that every child with vision loss has the tools, confidence and encouragement they need to succeed.